August 8th 2024.
In Arsenal's recent pre-season victory against Bayer Leverkusen, Oleksandr Zinchenko made an impressive mark by scoring the opening goal. However, manager Mikel Arteta has hinted that the Ukrainian may face some competition for a spot in the starting lineup this season, particularly from new signing Riccardo Calafiori.
Zinchenko had a fantastic start with the Gunners after joining from Manchester City two years ago, with Arteta's decision to use him as an inverted left-back bringing a transformative effect to the team's performance. However, his form declined last season as his defensive weaknesses were exposed by opposing teams.
Despite being a key player during the team's run towards the Premier League title, Zinchenko found himself playing a smaller role towards the end of the season, with other players like Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jakub Kiwior preferred in his position. Now, with the addition of Calafiori, the competition for places in Arsenal's solid defense has only increased.
But Zinchenko proved his worth in the recent friendly against Bayer Leverkusen, reminding everyone of his attacking abilities by scoring a goal and making several dangerous runs forward. His performance was a timely reminder of his talents and a hint that he is not ready to give up his spot easily.
However, Arteta has made it clear that Zinchenko's main focus should be on securing his place as a left-back rather than trying to compete for a midfield role that may suit his skills better. "Obviously he has played in midfield," said Arteta in his post-match press conference. "But the main focus for him right now is playing as a full-back and the options and solutions he provides in that part."
Zinchenko has already undergone a slight transformation in pre-season by changing his squad number from 35 to 17. When asked about it, he expressed hope that the new number would bring him luck. "Fingers crossed; I really hope so!" he said. "To be honest, this number is a special one for me. While I was growing up, I always used to wear it. Fingers crossed, let's see."
Despite facing a tough season last year, Zinchenko remains determined to improve his performance and regain the confidence and love from the fans. "I'm happy with my goal, but obviously to win every single game is the most important thing and individually as well," he said. "I'm just trying to do my job the best way I can. It's been a really tough season for me, so I'll try to do my best to bring back this confidence personally and also the love from the fans."
The recent 4-0 victory against Bayer Leverkusen was a great result for Arsenal, but Zinchenko believes there is still room for improvement. "There are still a lot of things to improve, both individually and collectively, but it was an amazing performance," he said.
Overall, Zinchenko's future at Arsenal may be uncertain, but he remains determined to fight for his spot and contribute to the team's success. As the new season approaches, it will be interesting to see how he fares in the competition for a starting spot and if he can continue to impress on the pitch.
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